Decorative device



y 1940. J. c. KOONZ DECORATIVE DEVICE Filed March 30, 1938 Patented May7, 1940 DECORATIVE DEVICE John C. Koonz, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor toThe Glolite Corporation, tion of Illinois Application March 30,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to decorative devices and moreparticularly to a novel and at-. tractive star for decorating Christmastrees, doors, windows or other parts of a building at Christmas time orwhenever such a decoration is desired.

The novel device, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a central partor core portion, pref- 1 erably of metal, in which a light is located,and

point sections made of transparent glass or the like having the edgesbevelled and ground, etched, sanded, sandblasted or painted, or havingthe narrow bands adjacent to the edges and on the plane surface of theglass ground, etched, sanded, sandblasted, painted or otherwise treated,so as to intercept and glow from the light enamating from the core orcentral part which illuminates the interior of the points only veryfaintly. Preferably a designis formed or cut in the front of the coresection, the interior of which is lined with a colored material such as'Cellophane, to transmit a colored light through the cut-out section.This results in a double design, namely, a back lighted center portionand edge lighted 1; points.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a very simpleand inexpensive decoration, but one which is very effective due to itsunique construction. By bevelling and making the edges of the points soas to intercept the transmitted light and provide edge lighting, theycreate the impression of a decoration of large diameter or dimensionswith a relatively small amount of material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a noveldecorative or ornamental star having a back lighted center portion andedge lighted points giving a highly effective decorative design.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such furtherobjects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination andarrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and whileI have shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood thatthe same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehendsother details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention,

55 In the drawing:

Waukegan, 111., a corpora- 1938, Serial No. 198.859 (01. 240-) Fig. 1 isa view in front elevation of the novel device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in rear elevation of the centralback portion.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the 5 irregular line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of the mounting for thelight bulb.

In the drawing of the disclosed embodiment of my invention, thedecorative device is shown in 19 the form or shape of a star comprisingfront and back core sections 1 and 2 and glass points 3. The coresections are preferably formed of metal stampings of a suitablethickness, while the points may be of ordinary transparent glass. Theedges 4 are shown as bevelled on the back side and these bevelled edgesare ground, etched, sanded, sandblasted, painted or otherwise treated tointercept and reflect the light from the electric lamp or bulb 5 in thecore portion of the star, 20 the remaining area of the points being onlyfaintly, if at all, illuminated thereby. This provides edge lightingsince the light which passes edgewise through the glass from the lightsource is ordinarily not visible, but dueto the presence of ground,etched, sanded or painted surfaces, the light is reflected and madevisible.

The front stamping I is pressed outwardly from the fiat edges 6 of itsperiphery to form a point or apex 1 having cut-out portions 8-taking theshape of a star. Just behind these cut-out portions is shown a sheet ofcolored transparent material 9 to color the light transmittedthroughthis cut-out portion. But if it is desired to make theback-lighted star of the same color as the 36 edge lighted star, thetransparent material 9 is dispensed with and any desired color of bulbmay be employed. The front stamping i is shown as five sided and theadjoining edges are bent or folded to provide fiaps or tabs ill at eachend 40 thereof.

The back section or stamping 2 is also depressed to receive a light bulbor other light source, and is provided with a central opening to permitinsertion of the bulb 5 and socket ll therethrough and into the chamberA between the stampings I and 2,

In order to mount the light source and socket in the section 2, theinvention comprehends a mounting l2 having an annular flange l3 whichconformably seats over and grips the socket H, andspring grippingfingers l4 so bent or formed as to be readily collapsed or depressed forinsertion and then spring back to tensionally grip the wall of thesection immediately adjacent the center and edge light in a forcing arelatively sharp 2 v spring and therebyv retain the assembly in adjustedposition. Thus the socket can be readily forced into its normaloperativeposition, and also can be removed or. replaced when desired. Thisremoval can be quickly accomiished by instrument between the exterior ofthe section 2 and the doubled flange of'the mounting. It is, of course,to be understood that other types of mountings. or fasteners may beemployed to retain the bulb and/or socket in assembly.

The backstamping is disclosed as of the same the front stamping but thehave their ends cut away so that when the two stampings are placed oneach other in their assembled relation, the tabs I0 may be bent over tohold the two members I and 2 together in fixed position. Inactualpractice the glass points are inserted before the tabs are turned overand are locked against outward movement by the tabs. Indentations orlugs l6 are pressed or stamped in the back 2 to align the points,prevent further inward movement thereof and help retain them inassembled relation.

In case it is desired to have the front of the core glow, the innerpoints be pressed slightly outwardly (see dotted lines in Fig. 3) and asubstance l8, such as ground glass, glued or adhered to the outer faceof the stamping I. may be polished, silvered or otherwise prepared toreflect light from the bulb ont'o the'outer face and cause this outerface to glow and give any desired color efiect.

It is obvious that many color combinations may be had with this device.The bulb may be of desired color and the color of the core and thedesign thereon may be made any desiredcontour and color. Merely changingthe bulb or the insertion of suitable light transmitting material thedesired color effects to the manner as previously set forth. Also theedges of the star may be varied by adding'ground glass of varying colorsto the bevelled edges to give the effect of an iced surface. Or theCellophane or light transmitting material may beextended to the edge ofthe point so that the light reflected to the edges thereof will be theterial. Eyelets or other attaching means i9 may also be projected fromor formed on the back stamping. 2 and through which a wire or strinmaybe drawn. for hanging the decoration.

Although I have disclosed one form of cpmbined centerand edge lighting,comprehends that words, pictures, letters or numbersmay be ground.etched, sand blasted or printed on one or more of the points to givenovel lighting effects. I j

Having thus disclosed the invention, I clairx'il:-

l. A decorative device comprising ahousing for -jections having tape llof the design may The inner face of the points ll through the points,

color of the transmitting mathe invention aieasss receiving a lightsource,

red edges and plane surfaces attached to the housing in such manner thatlight rays from said light source edgewise through the projections, andmeans at the edges only of said projections for intercepting thetransmitted light rays and causing said light forwardly to cause theedges comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections beingprovided with flat edges adapted to engage one of the sides of each flatprojection adjacent the edge of the base of the same on one facethereof, said section further having tabs turned over said tapered edgesand lying adjacent the opposite face of each projection and locking infixedposition each of said projections.

2. A decorative device comprising a star having a housing for receivingalight source, transparent flat projections having a base with taperingsides formingpointsof the star and having plane surfaces attached to thehousing in such manner that light rays from said light source passedgewise through the projections, and means at the edges only of, saidprojections for intercepting the tr nsmitted light rays and causing saidlight rays to be.projected forwardly to cause the edges to glow, said.housing comprising a plurality of sections, one of said sections beingprovided with flat edges adapted to engage one. side of each projectionadjacent the base thereof,

-. said section further having tabs turned-over said tapering sides andlying adjacent the opposite face of each projectionand locking in fixedposition eachof said projections. I

3. A decorative device comprising a star, a hollow housing for,receiving a light source. a design'formed in the front of said housingand having portions exte ding outwardly therefrom, transparent points ofsaid star having plane surfaces and having a base with tapered sidesattached to said hollow core in such manner that light rays from. saidlight source pass edgewise each point havin beveled edges extending atan angle to said plane surface for intercepting the transmitted lightraysand causing said light rays to be projected'forwardly to cause onlythe edges to glow, saidhousing com-- prising aplurality of sections, oneof. said sections being provided with flat edges adapted. to'

nt flat pro- I

